Israeli troops withdrew from the Palestinian village of Beit Jala, after occupying part of it for two days. The Palestinian Authority has agreed to keep Palestinian gunmen out of the village, which will stop the firing on a nearby Israeli village. This deal, which has yet prove effective, is seen as a breakthrough in the effort to get peace talks going again. The Palestinian Authority set up roadblocks outside the village to prevent gunmen from getting in. This was revealing, as it showed that Palestinian leader Arafat had to use force to contain the gunmen, rather than just issuing an order.